Tow skiff



Oct. 3, 1950 J. E. H'RrsTlE Y2,524,188

TOW SKIFF Filed June 21, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. E. CHRISTIE Oct. 3,1950 TOW SKIFF 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1948 Patented Oct. 3,1950 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFxcs 6 Claims.

'I'he present invention relates to a tow ski and it consists in thecombinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein describedand claimed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tow skiff which issimple in its construction and operation yet effective and efcient inuse.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel hullstructure in a skiif of the character set forth.

Another object of the invention is to provide `a novel crane structureforming a part of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a craft which isprovided with great maneuverability and which may have great util ity asa tugboat.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel seagoingcraft which is especially adaptable for use in rescue work at sea.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a skiif of thecharacter set forth which is provided with means for encompassing aportion of another craft and with means whereby the latter may be whollyor partially supported.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement in atow skill of a bridge and a power plant both forming a part of thew`invention.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ern- ""5" bodiment of theinvention,

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the skirt shown in Figures 1 and2.

Generally there is provided a tow skiif comprising a pair of spacedlongitudinally extending pontoons interconnected at their rear ends witha transversely extending plate to thus form a substantially U-shapedenclosure with the open M end thereof at the bow of the skiff. Thetransof the boat hull and the ends of the transversely extending plateare interconnected with tubular frameworks upon which are supported afuel tank, tool lockers and the like.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein atow skiff comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extending ponto-onsIll and II which each have their forward `ends provided with bows l2 andi3, respectively and whose rear portions are interconnected by atransversely extending plate I4 upon which lis fastened decking l5. Theplate I4 and decking l5 are additionally reinforced by means ofdownwardly extending front andrea-1' webs A and B respectively, whichare suitably secured as by welding, riveting or the like to the innerside walls of the pontoons ID and II. The 4bottom edge of thereinforcing webs is curved as indicated at C and is spaced above thelevel of the water so as to eliminate any drag or resistance caused bycontact with the water during the travel of the skiiT. `The curvature Cis designed to allow theiwater to pass under the skiff Vwhen operatingin either rough or quiet waters.

Interconnecting each end of the decking l5 and the upper rear portionsofthe pontoonsn Ii] and Il are brace plates I5 and I'I which-are shapedto conform with the contour ofthe upper portion of the pontoons. 3

Supported by tubular legs I 8 afxed to the decking I5 is a transverselyextending bridge I9 provided with a ladder 2G communicating with thedeck l5. A steering wheel 2l and navigational instruments 22 aresituated in the bridge 20.

Base plates 23- and 24 are iixed forwardly on the pontoons I0 and I I,respectively, for the support of pairs of upwardly converging legs 25and `26, respectively. Amidships on each of the pontoons It! and II is abase plate 2l and 28, respectively, for the support of upwardlyconverging legs 29 and 30, respectively.

Supported by the upperends of the legs 25 and 26 is a transverselyextending beam 3l and supported by the upper ends of the legs 29 and 30is a transversely `extending beam 32. Interconnecting the centers of thebeams 3l and 32 is a longitudinally extending beam 33 centrally disposedupon which is a pulley housing 34 for a hoist.

A winch 35 is aflixed centrally and forwardly on the deck I5 and isprovided with a cable 36 and hook 3l.

A boat hull 38 extends rearwardly from the Qelter Q the plate I4,contains a power plant 39 and is provided with a hatch 40 hinged, asindicated at 4I, and provided with a handle 42. A rudder 43 is mountedat the rear of the hull 38.

Interconnecting'the outer ends of the rear wall f the plate I4 and therear end of the boat hull 38 is a pair of tubular reinforcing members 44and 45.

A pair of substantially circular frame members 4E and 4'! are connectedwith the member 45 and with the hull 33 and plate I4, respectively, andsupport therein a cylindrical fuel tank 48.

Tubular support members 49 and 59 interconnect the member 44 and theplate I4 and the boat hull 38, respectively, and are, in turn,interconnected with a strap 5I and a platform 52 Y upon which issupported a tool locker 53.

While bolts are shown in the drawings for various connections andfastenings of vone part to another, it will be understood that welding,riveting or other means may readily be utilized instead of bolting.

In use it will be apparent that the tow skiif herein described may beused for a variety of purposes. For example a small craft in distressmay be wholly or partially lencompassed by the pontoons Ill, II and deckI5 and thereafter be wholly or partially supported by a crane, block'and tackle or the like suspended from the beam 33 while the stern ofthe disabled craft may be held against forward lurching by means of thewinch 35 through the cable 36 and 31. The elevated bridge allows for aclear perspective of the operation of the skif.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and describedherein,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minormodifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A tow skiff comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extendingpontoons, a'transversely extending plate interconnecting the rearportions of the'longitudinal pontoons, a centrally disposed boat hullextending rearwardly of the transversely extending plate, a power plantin said boat hull, a Ideck upon the transversely extending plate, anelevated bridge supported uponthe deck and a crane frame interconnectingthe longitudinal pontoons.

2. A tow skiif comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extendingpontoons, a transversely extending plate interconnecting the rearportions of the longitudinal pontoons, a centrally disposed boat hullextending rearwardly of the transversely extending plate, a power plantIin said boat hull, a deck upon the transversely extending plate, braceplates secured to and having the contour of the upper portions of therear of the longitudinal pontoons and aflixed to the deck, an elevatedbridge supported upon the deck and a Vcrane frame interconnecting thelongitudinal pontoons.

3. A tow skiif comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extendingpontoons, a transversely extending plate interconnecting the rearVportions of the longitudinal pontoons, a centrally disposed boat hullextending rearwardly of the transversely extending plate, a power plantin said boat hull, a deck upon the transversely extending plate, anelevated bridge supported upon the deck, two pairs of upwardlyconverging legs afxed to each of the longitudinal pontoons, a pair oftransversely extending beams supported at the upper ends of said legs, acentrally disposed longitudinally extending beam interconnecting thetransverse beams and means for supporting hoisting apparatus on thelongitudinal beam.

4. A tow skiif comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extendingpontoons, a transversely extending plate interconnecting the rearportions of the longitudinal pontoons, a centrally disposed boat hullextending rearwardly of the transversely extending plate, a power plantin said -boat hul-l, a deck upon the transversely extending plate, anelevated bridge supported upon the deck, a crane frame interconnectingthe longitudinal pontoons, a winch centrally and forwardly disposed uponthe deck and a hook Yand cable for the winch.

5. A tow skiiF comprising a pair .of spaced longitudinally extendingpontoons, a transversely extending plate interconnecting the rearportions of the longitudinal pontoons, a centrally disposed boat hullextending `rearwardly of the transversely extending plate, a power plantin said boat hull, a deck upon the transversely extending plate, anelevated bridge supported upon the deck, twoV pairs of upwardlyconverging legs afxed to each of the longitudinal pontoons, a pair oftransversely extending beams supported at the upper ends of said legs, acentrally disposed longitudinally extending beam interconnecting thetransverse beams, means for supporting hoisting apparatus on the'longitudinal beam, a winch centrally and forwardly disposed upon thedeck and a hook and cable for the winch.

6. A tow skifl" comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally extendingpontoons, a transversely extending plate interconnecting the rearportions of the longitudinal pontoons, a centrally disposed boat hullextending rearwardly of the trans` versely extending plate, a powerplant in said boat hull, a deck upon the transversely extending plate,an elevated bridge supported upon the deck, a crane frameinterconnecting the longitudinal pontoons and tubular brace membersinterconnecting the rear end of the boat hull and the rear ends of thetransversely extending plate.

JOHN EDWARD CHRISTIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 141,083 Siebe et al. July 22,1873 1,059,201 Pasquier Apr. 15, 1913 1,470,459 Lonsinger Oct. 9, 19231,715,291 Hisle May 28, 1929 1,937,973 Mayo Dec- 5, 1933

